Some controls require the intended zone to be selected before a shared slider or plus/minus buttons are used. The active selection indicator matters.
What the observation means
A remembered finger position can be unreliable when several pans are in use. Flexible zones may also change which area a control represents.
A useful next step
Check the display and follow the model's selection sequence. If the wrong zone changes despite correct use, stop relying on the controls and request assessment. Do not continue cooking by guessing which pan is receiving heat or compensate with repeated rapid button presses.
Manuals and supporting guidance
Model-specific instructions take priority. These references support the practical principles discussed here; they do not diagnose your appliance.